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THE INDEPENDENT
Mom-’n’-Pops Hit Hard “W e need help,” said Mar-
lene Bucy of Folio Press & Paperie on Motor Way. With Christmas just days away, what should have been a bustling stationer’s shop was way too quiet.“We’d normally be full and busy, gift wrapping and helping people,” she said. “I invested about $35,000 just for product for December.” Mom-’n’-pops like Bucy’s flourish in what they call The Hub, home to icons like Santa Barbara Roasting Company and Lilly’s Taquería. With 16,000 people unable to return home as of Tuesday afternoon, another 12,000 under evacuation warning, even more sheltering from the smoke particles, and tourists who’ve abandoned Santa Barbara, retail’s usual December customers are not shopping. Ken Oplinger of the Santa Barbara Chamber of Commerce said hotel cancellations extend into January and February. Maya Schoop-Rutten, who owns Chocolate Maya a few doors down from Bucy, said the slowdown in trade is “dramatic and very, very scary.” Her online customers have helped sales — as they have for places like the Italian Pottery Outlet, which is using the code word “THOMAS” to offer a 15 percent discount — but the people who normally walk in for holiday presents are only trickling in. Isabella Gourmet Foods’ Amy Chalker said, “Typically, 30 to 40 percent of our sales come from this time of year.” She and many other small businesses are fighting back by holding special events and offering discounts. Once a full presidential disaster declaration is made, Small Business Administration (SBA) loans become available for economic losses, explained Yolanda Stokes of the SBA office in Sacramento. “It takes a request from the governor to the president to declare a large-scale presidential declaration, and working capital loans are made at low rates, currently 3.3 percent, up to $2 million,” she said. The Thomas Fire doesn’t have that status yet, but the Chamber of Commerce’s newsletter encouraged calls to the Small Business Development Center for Santa Barbara and Ventura counties at 409-9159.
BY NICK WELSH AND JEAN YAMAMURA
$62 Value
DEcEmbEr 21 , 2017
independent.com
Marlene Bucy of Folio Press & Paperie
SHOP LOCAL NOW
Glen Hodges of Color Services
Business interruption insurance might offer some coverage for losses, according to Oplinger. Those ordered to close because they’re in the mandatory evacuation zone or the days a business had to close because of ashfall and health concerns may qualify. A lack of customers probably does not, but individuals should check with their insurer, he suggested. City Hall cleanup crews, working with the Downtown Organization and private contractors, swept and hosed down the downtown sidewalks to eradicate as much of the accumulated ash as possible. And city parking lots — while no longer free as they were for four days last week — now offer two and a half hours of free parking as opposed to the usual 75 minutes. Santa Barbara Mayor Helene Schneider sent out a Facebook blast showing a passel of neatly wrapped Christmas presents, encouraging those with shopping still to do to do so downtown and not online. Restaurants, Oplinger said, were hammered by as much as 50 percent, especially those with outdoor patios. Wholesale cancellation of holiday parties didn’t help either. Oplinger said he’s hoping people who are looking to help out in some fashion might consider coming downtown and shopping. “We’re asking people not to do their shopping online,” he said.“Help the local businesses.” There’s only so much free parking, clean streets, and plucky spirit can do, however, should the fierce downslope winds predicted for late Wednesday night materialize.“Hey, there’s only so much I can spin,” said Santa Barbara Downtown’s Kate Schwab. ’Til then, she urged prospective shoppers to check out the “Open for Business”page of the Downtown Organization’s website at downtownsb.org. n
Our listing of Santa Barbara region retailers offering specials during this Thomas Fire–tinged Christmas season is now on our website. See independent.com/shop2017.